The Sun Remembers: Sept. 8-14

Mike Klingaman, The Baltimore Sun

Sept. 12, 2004: The Orioles use 10 pitchers, a major league record in a nine-inning game, and lose, 9-7, to the New York Yankees before an announced 47,780 at Camden Yards. Mercifully, Bruce Chen goes the distance the next day for the Birds.

Sept. 11, 1983: "I thought they'd boo me. But I never thought they'd boo the whole first half," Denver rookie quarterback John Elway says after the Broncos' 17-10 win over the Colts at Memorial Stadium. Baltimore drafted Elway No. 1 overall, but his refusal to play here forced his trade to Denver.

Sept. 12, 1976: Quarterback Bert Jones throws two touchdown passes within 41 seconds and safety Jackie Wallace intercepts three passes, tying a team record, as the visiting Colts defeat the New England Patriots, 27-13, in their opener.

Sept. 10, 1971: The Bullets select Phil Chenier, a 6-foot-3 guard from California, fourth overall in the NBA hardship draft. Chenier will star two years in Baltimore and play nine seasons with the Bullets, who move to Landover in 1973.

Sept. 13, 1970: Mike Cuellar pitches his 19th complete game — an Orioles record — in a 13-2 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox. It's the 23rd win against seven losses for Cuellar, who also knocks in two runs and scores one for the World Series-bound Birds.

Sept. 12, 1957: In a move to shore up their receiving corps, the Colts work out Pro Bowl defensive end Gino Marchetti at offensive end. "Marchetti makes a good, big target and if he catches the ball and gets under way, some small defensive back is going to get killed attempting to stop him," Colts end coach Bob Shaw says.

Sept. 11, 1950: Returning home from their seventh straight preseason loss, the Colts are greeted at Friendship Airport by Baltimore Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro, 20 members of their marching band and 300 fans carrying signs that read, "Exhibitions, Pooh!" and "So You've Lost ... Now Win!" Alas, the Colts go 1-11 and fold at season's end.

Sept. 8, 1897: The first-place Orioles spoil the major league debut of Louisville's Rube Waddell, a promising left-hander, defeating the Colonels, 5-1, at Union Park. "With ... an experienced catcher to teach him, among other things, a change of pace, Waddell ought to become a star," The Sun writes. Waddell will win 193 games in his Hall of Fame career.